Manufacture of golf balls



Feb. 16 1926.

A. E. PENFOLD MANUFACTURE 0F GOLF BALLS ed Nov. 26, 1923 1 l l #l Patented ret. ie, i926.

'Univar :STATI-:s

. 1,573,2i1 rAT-ENT OFFICE.

. j I ERT ERNEST PENFOLD, OF BIRMINGHAM, ENGLAND, ASSIGNOR TO THE DUNLOP RUIBBEB, COMPANY, LIMITED, OF LONDON, ENGLAND, A BRITISH COMPANY.

MANUFACTURE OF GOLF BALLS.

To all whom it may concern.'

v Ioin, a subject of the King of Great Britain,\ residing at Manor Mills, Salford Street, As-

y tom Birmingham, in the county of Warwick, England, have invented certain Anew and useful Improvements in Aor Relating to the w Manufacture of Golf Balls, of which the following isa specification.

This invention relates to the manufacture of golfballs and'has particular reference to the manufacture or formation of the'outer covers or shells, which are generally made of gtta-percha or balata with or without 1.5 the addition of india-rubber.

` covers or shells have been made by winding a calendered tape or strip of gutta-percha around the golf ball core, the covering formed by the wound tapej or strip being subsequently moulded. The Working and mechanical treatment of the gutta-percha to form the tape or strip detrimentally affect the gutta-percha with the result that the cover or shell formedfby the wound stripdoes not'possess the original characteristics or properties of the gutta-p'erchal which are very essential for the production of a satisfactory cover or shell. The object Vof ythe present invention is to produce the tapes or strips in such manner ,that the, original nerve and general characteristics of the guttapercha or similar material are' retained so that afterthe tape or stripv has been' wound Von the core and subse uently moulded, a satisfactory outer cover avingthe original properties 4of the gutta-perch'a is produced. In accordance with the present invention and with the above stated obj ect vin view, the tape or strip for forming the outer cover of 4 the olf ball is produced or formed Vfrom a solution of gutta-percha or balata or a so-V lution of gutta-pencha and/or balata and india-rubber (hereinafter referredv to as guttapercha or gutta-percha solution).` The 745 gutta-percha is dissolved by aisuitable sol--4 "vent with .the` application of heat to prov duce the solution from which tapes or strips are-to vbe formed. By preparing asolution of gutta-percha, the -original nerve .of the 59 latter is in no way destroyed or detrimentalj ly affected, and the tapes or. strips may be formed fromthe solution various ways ,without involving` mechanical or other treat- `inent'vvhich would detrimentally affect the The outer.

Itapes or strips o formed being batched up "Application filed November 2.6, 1923. -Serial No. 677,075.

gutta-percha. One convenient method of forming the tape or strip is to spread the solution into a very thin layer on a flat surface, the thin layer so formed being allowed tf` solidify by cooling or by evaporation of the solvent. The thin layer of the solution may after solidifcation be cut into tapes or strips of the desired width for winding on the golf ball core, but the solution may be spread directly into strip or tape form of the desired width so as to avoid the cuttinof operation. Generally thespreading lof the solution may be effected by causing it to pass through la flat opening formed between two suitable surfaces which impart the desired thickness to the layer as yrequired in the finished tape or strip. For example the solution may be supplied on to a fiat surface and passed under a spreader the edge of which is'maintained in close proximity to the said Hat` surface. The width of the spreader 75 and the said` fiat surface may be such' as to produce av sheet or a wide thin layer of the solution which after solidification is ont into tapes or str'ps of the desired width', the

or wound on to a roller ready for use.

The gatta-perche. tape or strip formed as hereinbefore referred to'may be wound on the golf ball core to produce a wound covering which is subsequentlyV moulded to complete the manufacture of the outer cover or shell which possesses the original nerve o the gutta-percha. f

In order that the invention maybe more clearly understood and readily carried into effect the same will now be described more fully with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which vFigure l isV a perspective view of Vone construction' of apparatus for producing the gutta-percha strips or tapes according to this-invention.

Figure 2 is a diagrammatic side view of the apparatus.

Figure 3 Jis a'.- sectional view taken approximately'on the line 3-3 of Figure 2.

A is a tank or vessel containing the guttapercha solution which is prepared` in any suitable or usualmanner. B is an endless beltl or b and conveyor on which the solution `from the tank is supplied through an outlet beit forliattening or spreading-the mass of I L solution indicated lby-X into a thin sheet or i `layer indicated b X1. D; D represent knives or cutters or dividing the layer or i sheet of solution into strips or tapes indicated, by X2. E represents the roller on to which the-strips or tapes X2 are Wound or batched up. The tank A is provided with a Water 'jacket t0 which liotwvater can be sup- -plied through a pipe A2 for maintaining the solution in the tank at the desired temperaj ture. They solution is preferably l forced through the outlet pipe A1 on to the conveyor B by compressed air admitted to the The cenveyor belt or bandl B which is preferably provided with a smooth polished sur- 1 facepasses around rollers B1,l fly-'rotatablyy mounted in the niain frame F ofthe apparatus', the roller B2 being driven by chain tioned within the frame F as shownin Figure 1. The conveyor B also passes'around `rollers B5; B6 rotatably mounted in the frame F inthe lpositions shown and the roller Be is carried on'anyadjust'able support F1 slidably mounted on ya suitable part .ofthe frame and connected by a screw or screws F2 to a fixed member F3 so that-by manipulating the screwsF2 theusupport. F1

ywith its Iroller B1 can be slidablymoved to tension the conveyor B as required., A number of supporting rollers B" may be rotatably mounted in the upper part of the frame F for supporting the belt as it passes from the roller B1 to the driving roller B2 Whilst a lower supporting roller B8 is rovided for supporting the belt as it passes rom the said drlving roller `B2 tothe roller B5. Instead of providing the supporting rollers B7 a table ror dat support may be fixed in the l frame F- or supporting the said beltor band Bbetween the .rollers B1 and B2. The .I tank A is so positioned that the solutin forced through the outlet A1 falls on to the 'conveyor band as the latter passes round and leaves the roller B1 andthe mass of solutlon X deposited on the conveyorlis carzo. ried towards the s reader @which -in the f metal casing su ported on .the'lower ,'part of example shownjis 1n the form of a .hollow (the tank A. el'ower art of thespreader .1s Iformed with a thinje ge extending acrossv practicallyvthe Whole width ofthe conveyor and--disposedahovefthe first Aof the su porting rollers B7 in close proximity to t 'e upf .tween the thin edge o e s eader andthe sp1-tea layer or sheet X1. yThe'interior,of the" hollow spreader' is in communication th the .hot Water jacket of the' tank A l tlibugtlpipe01 so that the spreaderfcan bythe het water. from the jacket upper part of the tank ythrough a pipe A3.V

gearing B3 from an electric motor B4 posi-'- rollerll may be driven by a belt E,4 from per `surface` ol the cong'eor the distance be-A conveyor `determining the 't ickness of vthe gutta-percha solution into the thin layer X1. The first supporting roller BT aords posif tive support for the conveyor B at the point where. actual spreading of the solution iseffccted and in thecase of a supporting table being used instead of the rollers B7 it would extend under the spreader in order to'afford thenecessary support-at the spreading position. 'The distance between the spreader edge and the conveyor is-only very slight so that as the mass of solution indicated by X passes under the spreader edge it is flattened into thethin layer or sheet X1 extending across practically the" Whole widthuof the band on which the thin layer X1 solidifies whilst being carried towardsthe knives or cutters D. lf desired the sides of the spreader C may be rovid'ed with flanges or depending cheeks g2 (see Figure 3) to deteirminethe Width of the layer oi" the solu- 85 tion that is spread on to the band. Alterf natively the band itself may be provided-f"- with flanges for this'purposeA The knives or vcutters D- are laterally adjustable` on a shaft D1 having .an arm D2 to which a tension, spring D3 extending from the end part iF4 of the main frame is connected so as to' 'maintain the ends of the knives or cuttersin contact with a scraper blade D1 having a thin edge which is located ose against the outer surface of the convey r B where the latter passes round the ldrivinglroller B2 so as toprevent the solidified layer X1 from being carried roundl vthe drivirfg roller B2 and ensure its travel over the upper surface of vthescrape'r blade D1 on which the actual cutting or dividing of the layer X1 into the strips X2 is effected. By adjusting the knives D on the shaft D1 the layer can be cut into strips or tapes 'of diHerent widths. The strips or tapes X2 pass between a .pair of nipping rollers E1, E2 supported in the frame part F4 and on emerging :from bef. tween these rollers the strips X2 are Wound oir-t6 the bat'ching-up roller E which is ydetachably mounted in 4suitable supports on the Lframe .part F4 so that the batchinglup. roller E Wlth the strips or tapes-TX2 Wound thereon can/be readily removedgthe batchedv iup strips being ready for use by unwinding'lwy i from the roller E as required. In the ex- `ample shown the -batching upv relleris' stead of cutting or dividing the layer of solidified solution into narrow strips or tapes prior to the hatching up operation Athe' cutting ordividing may be effected after or during thebatching up operation.

No'claim islherein made to the ball as an. article of manufacture produced` by the maaaterantefore ,aescribea, asy claims 13051 V .therefor are resented in a divisional applizcation, Ser1al No. 46,464, filed July 27, 19 5.

. Wha-t I claim anddesre to secure b`y Letters Patent ofthe United States is:-

1.` -In the' manufacture of golf balls, a method of preparing gutta percha for use in the construction of the ball, comprising prei paring a solution of gutta percha', and forming the solution into a thin layer., 2.v In the manufacture o golf balls, a

. method of preparing gutta percha for the vzo outer cover, lcomprising preparing a solution of gutta percha,spreading the solution to form a thin layer, and cutting said layer into narrow strips.'

In the manufacture of golf balls, a 4method of treating gutta pel-cha for the outer cover, comprising preparing a solution of gutta percha, spreading the solution into a thin layer, and dividing said layer after soliditicatiop intoa number of strips.

4. In the manufacture of golf balls, a'

method of preparing gutta percha for the outer cover, comprising pre aring a solution oftlie gutta pcrcha, sp1-ea ing the solution into a thin layer on a travelling surface, and cutting said thin layer at Ia point remote from thespreading point into strips.

5. In the manufacture of golf balls, a method of preparing gutta percha for the outer cover, comprising supplying gutta percha solution tol a travelling surface, passfor winding on golf ing the deposited solution under a reader to produce a thm layer on sald su ac e, re-

moving said layer from said surface, and'A cutting the layer as it -is removed mto a numberof strips.

6. In the manufacture of golf balls, a method of preparing gutta perchal for the outer cover, comprising preparing a solution of gutta percha, maintaining the solution at the desired temperature, causing said solution to llc deposited on a travelling band, subjecting the solution on the band to the action of a heated spreader to form a thm layer, carrying said thin layer to a point remote from the spreader so that the layer solidifies, removing said layer from the trav clling hand, cutting said layer as it 1s removed from the band into strips, and winding said strips as they are cut onto batclr ing up means. y

7. As an article of manufacture, a strip for, usc in the manufacture of golf balls 'prepared from gutt-a percha solution.

8. As an article of manufacture, alstrip for use in the manufacture of golf balls prepared by spreading gutta percha solution into a thin layer.

9. As an article of manufacture, a strip ball cores prepared byspreading gutta percha solution into a thin layer. and. cutting said layer into narrow lengths. ALBERT ERNEST PENFOLD.' 

